The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-25

" ffNO mn ltillN llNaAN HlElN AAsl'A
SD'A " he SCOT his messenger,
IOS Jack Frost, to ctch IN
bulletins OF silvcry
rimc the advent Of the snow and sure
enough here it was conducted by Borcas
himself, and heraldod on every side by
~shivering blarcs Of his trumpet.
Crowds surgcd by; their footsteps made
no sound; they were white and spectrali
their breath fell about in vapors. But the
merry music OF laughter filed the air. The
cxhilaration OF the sleigh bells and the
chimes in the stccple all blended into one
happy sound. 1t rose and fell; thrilled
the heart with its message bcnedic-
ton.
Ii was Christmas Eve.
"Goodyl''-a little goldcn-haircd girl
stood at the window gazing into the night,
her blue eyes alight with the happiness OF
u giutiiied wish, and her little fingers kept
drumming q merry accompaniment on the
window ne She hummcd in q sweet, child
ish treble
Kris Hinglc Is coming, hi o-io.
Kris kinglc Il coming, hio-io,
over and over. and over again.
Indeed, she had thought of nothing else
bless her little hcart-nnd do what she
might, think as she would, the conclusion
of everything that day was the same de.
lightful refrain
Kris Hinglc Is coming, hi o-io.
And, even rs she turned away from tho
window and sought her mamma and papa
TO kiss them goodnight, the rhythmof that
melodious measure adjusted itself TO heI
footsteps; it followed her upstairs, along
the hall, to her bedroom chamber.
Kris Kiuglc Q, comlur. Mio-io.
"WhoO!' oh, hsw the wind howlcd'
Several wandering gusts prowled in IA,
paSsagc-way; they touched her cheek,
with chilly hands; they filled the nook
and corners: they whispered Ia each other
but what oi that did they not tell tn,
little girl
Kris Klpglc g. coming. hio-Io.
''O!' she opened her bedroom door q
food oi delightful Warmth and light am,
from the lip - brightly aglow in ia,
gnito; then she closed thcsdOOr and wa'
alone in her own little room.
She looked toward the mantclpiccc
Yes, there it hung. suuly the little cir
couldn't wear that large stocking. Oh
mo-; that was mmmma's. But santa Clau'
wouldn't mind that. she thought; beside
she had been n good giIl, and then Christ
mas only came once q year.
The freight, with a tender touch, Trans
formed her curly locks into ruldy gold. !
embraced her with u guardian kindlincy
and fell upon her ~ q hcnrdiction ~ sh'
knelt 10 say her PRAYERS.
. 30 GUl. bless papa and mamma an.
make Estcllc @ gu0d girl that WIS all, q
least that was usually all her prayer, In
|ionight she added: And please tell Ri
kinglc Ia send mamma and papa lots an,
lots ot Christmas presents and then
dear little heart rserying her request f.
~ the llst, II want q new dolly. because th.
a sawdusi is all out of Polly's left leg, and
new sled, aud u iur muil. and please, God
tell Kris Kiuglc To- bring " Estcll
raised her head anl listened, her blue eye
wide with wondering expectancy. Then
IL was ngain 'tinklc, tiuklc, jing-aIlng'
away OIL in thr di-tauo' the sound Of I'll
very sleigh bells, coming nearer and nearer
"nnkl". tinklr, jing-a-liug, louder an
louder. Al! Il ~ uu the roui - nj the chin
new. "Mhna," shouted the merry vote.
Estcllc's iarc banned with joy. She va
not afraid. Her hands were claspcd b,
fore her, and her eyes are fastened upu
the fireplace.
"Scc q pair Of iur-clad legs appear.
rUund body, aud, last, a merry face Wit
~twinkling, rpguish eyes, and there upo
the hcarth-rug before her stood ut
Kinglc. Aud az what u pack be- hor
upon his shoulder, Gifts for everybody
large aud small. dollics, hubhy-hur-c'
slcds, drums, tumpcis everything.
She paused iOr one trCmuluus mOmCn
81 hesitation, and then, running forWar.
boldly elapsed Kris kinglc about one
his mt arms, aud, although her lttI
mind wa full u questions anl message
all she said was "Ol %! or NJ
Kinglc eyed the little girl with a siartlr
though kindly glance. well! WE'LL! d
exclaimed, "thi. h unusual, ! must sl
can't r%'collcct anything ct this kind b
fore" And. LAYING his chubby han
softly upon her golden hair, he askc'
"And how does Il rome this little girl
not fast aslcrp like other gDUd girls?'
S"Oh, but ! have been o good girl, q
. claimed Estcllc; 'and ! didn't think gpu
people need bC uimil Oi Kris kinglc.'
"Mcll thcw's some truth iu that, " %
knowlcigcd the jolly little fellow, IAN
you needn't be- afraid Of anybody else ,
Their"
But tell M, interrupted stcllc, "wh
have Won brought mrg' and curuurlg,
by his kindly glance shc asked: Have y,
q dolly that rau roll its eyes aud ak Ur
ANNNNl NlfA w " INV Et'NH - " HiHAt w.
lots aud lots IT books
clio, ho!" laughed Kris Kinglc, o. ]
produced ior the delighted child the nr
clcs she nYnpd what a greedy little q
it's Anythingclsci'
80 ycs. nuts and randics,' answer
Estcllc, looking toward the stocking On q
maniclpiccc.
BLESS me, said Kris Kinglc, ~ be- pr
parcl a. put the swccimoais into the sioc
Ing. 'rCau Il be- tia, this little girl wca
that big thing Why, " ! hl that, VIII
will all the other little girls in the ncig
borhood do2 np YOU wear thati'
"No,n acknowledged E-tcllc, 1T j maj
ma. but I DIDN'T think you would min
because YOU only some once n year.
The kindlicst and ii,udliost u smil
tWinklcd the Jolly old fellows eyes, diI
pied his cheeks, slipped in chucklrs IN
his lips. turned a. contagious laught'
then going to the mantolpiccc hc filed 4
stocking with sNCctmpais until II was 4
30 running over.
"Now. little GIRL" De said, "bc carci
not a. make yourself sick. don't Try to ,
all the candy NJ once. Come. nov, hayci
you q kiss ior mn old chap like mcY'
30 yes dozens aud dozens cried !
tclle, and pulling his face down TO the ",
of hers she kissed him on the cheka, {
n0ac, tire lips, until lac cried out: "ThcI
iherrl that will do. you'n eat me present.
Now, goodbye" and he started iowa
the fireplace.
20 Kris Kinglcl" exclaimed the III
girl, her eyes aglow with tile light Of n
usual Thought, walt n moment; won't y
take mo asndiup with YOU In your slpia